Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Counting Cups


Our math focus skill this week has been number sense and counting! Instead of just counting objects on worksheets, I thought it could be more fun for my students to count real objects! I put a different number of items inside reused play-doh cups. I think it works best as a station activity. Ideas for items to put inside the cups: buttons, pom-poms, paper clips, shells, clear stones, erasers...anything will work! Counting is cool with counting cups.

15 comments:

Tickled Pink Mandy said...

great idea!

Mandy's Memories said...

That is such a great idea

Stephanie said...

What a great idea!! I wish I had not just thrown away all of old playdough containers.

Love your ideas!! :)

Sarah said...

And it looks like this activity also works on fine motor skills - double score!

Jenn said...

Love this! Especially the use of the Play-Doh containers :) After they count the objects in the container, what do they do (write down the number, draw and write what they counted, etc.)?

Sarah Cooley said...

After they count the objects, they record the number on a Counting Cups work page!

Cheryl said...

What an awesome idea! I'm making some right now with the Gerber baby food plastic rectangular containers. They are not as pretty as the Play-Doh containers but they'll work. Thanks for sharing.

Julie said...

Love it! Do you have a recording sheet made already?

According to Ashley said...

Love it!

Sarah Cooley said...

Cheryl, I love the idea of using baby food containers! Smart! Julie--I did have a sheet made, but I drew the cups. I still need to figure out how to create PDFs on my computer at home--I don't think we are able to right now! Otherwise, I'd share my pages with you!!!

Anonymous said...

Hi,

This is a fabulous idea. I have been saving my play doh containers, and had no idea what to do with them. i my modify this idea and put alphabet related items in the cups.
Thanks

Unknown said...

Love this idea. I am always saving containers, but never thought to save playdough containers. Thanks so much.
Donna
http://kinderglynn.blogspot.com/

First Grade Smarties said...

I love love love this idea. The playdoh cups are so bright and I always hate throwing them out when the playdoh is empty. Thanks for the great tip.
Claire

Amy said...

I just love this idea. I will be teaching first grade next year so I am in need of some independent activites. Thanks!!

Megan said...

I have done something very similar :-) I used a simple chart with letters a-z small typed in the corners... I put the containers around the room and students had to walk around to fill in their whole chart! The movement is good for my students who all have ADHD.

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